The 28 year-old seed conservation nonprofit Native Seeds/SEARCH (NS/S) has added desert - adapted garden variety seeds to their catalog. For decades, NS/S has offered seeds from its expansive collection of unique, indigenous crops for sale to gardeners. However, until now, the more familiar vegetables such as lettuce, carrots and kale were not available.

Now, NS/S offers a vibrant selection of vegetables and herbs specifically suited for growing in desert climates. All seeds are guaranteed non-GMO (genetically modified organism) and chemical-free, in a wide range of heirloom and open-pollinated varieties.

The new seeds directly support the NS/S mission to promote agricultural diversity in the Southwest. By cultivating new varieties of locally adapted crops of all kinds, growers will boost the region’s biodiversity, making the local food system more resilient and sustainable.

Visit the Native Seeds/SEARCH retail store at 3061 N. Campbell Ave. and online at NativeSeeds.org.